Gameday!! The Saints play their third game in eleven days. And while that sucks for preparation and the bodies of the players, it’s kind of awesome for us the fans. The more games in a short amount of time the better, I say. I bet Roger Goodell agrees. After all, money trumps player safety, doesn’t it? And so does my entertainment. Except not really. And don’t get me started about why the Saints would have to play a Sunday night game BEFORE GOING ON THE ROAD to play a Thursday night game. What an awful disadvantage that is completely unfair. Alas, no time to pout, the Saints are 3-4 and the Panthers are 3-4-1, so the winner of this game is in first place in the NFC South. It’s that simple. If the Saints win, throw all that early season garbage out the window, it doesn’t matter, they are in position to make the playoffs. Here’s five things I’m looking for:
1. Come on guys we’re streaking!
More crazy than the 11 game win streak the Saints have at home is the 7 game losing streak they have on the road. Think about how insane that is. The Saints have lost SEVEN straight road games in the regular season. I seriously can’t imagine there’s ever been a team with such a disparity of streaks of home vs. away. It’s about automatic recently that the mere location of the game determines the outcome for the Saints. A lot has happened in those road game losses. Last second field goals, blow out losses and everything in between. The common denominator is they are losing. And none was more painful than the one in Detroit where the team seemed to have finally done enough to get over that hump. No time like the present, though, when 1st place in the NFC South is on the line. I just want this streak over. I don’t care if they win 6-3, 40-2, or 27-23 (my score predictions). Just win a game on the road for God’s sake. The home game win streak will be in jeopardy on this three game home stand that follows against three tough football teams. I’d much rather the road streak end first.
2. More Mark Ingram all day every day?
It looks like Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson will miss this one too as neither have been able to practice on a short week. Thomas is listed as out but Robinson is questionable so we’ll keep a glimmer of hope he can go. Ingram had a very heavy workload just 4 days ago and he’ll likely need to have another. If he can’t carry a 20-25 carry load, though, that’s where the drop off in abilities running the football is huge. Edwin Baker and Travaris Cadet are both more likely to see carries with Ingram being leaned on heavily again just 4 days after he was used so much. Hopefully Ingram will have the stamina and health to duplicate what he did in Green Bay and carry the team on his back taking the lion share of the snaps. If he can’t, running back goes from once being one of the deepest positions on the team to a hot mess.
3. Hey Drew, Roman is covering me on this play!
I joked on the podcast that the Saints should find Roman Harper wherever he is on the field and throw to his receiver/assignment every single time. But I’m actually kind of serious. Remember how much he struggled in coverage with the Saints? Of course you do. If he’s one on one with Cadet or Graham there should be zero doubt in Brees’ mind with where to go with the football. I expect him to get targeted in coverage whenever there is an opportunity to do so.
4. This Panthers’ line is “offensive”, alright.
Absent from this game are three starting offensive linemen for the Panthers. Byron Bell, Amini Silatolu and Trai Turner (of LSU) are all out. That means both starting guards and the starting left tackle won’t be able to play. I have a hard time seeing Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks, Junior Galette and company not having a big game against these guys. It’s a tremendous opportunity to win the battle up front against unknown players. The Packers game was a step in the right direction for this defensive line, but they’re going to have to be able to manhandle the Panthers up front. On paper there is every indication that will happen. And a rookie will be starting his first game at left tackle going up against Junior Galette. If Cam Newton’s blindside isn’t consistently eaten alive I’ll be pretty disappointed.
5. The return of DeAngelo
DeAngelo Williams often has huge games against the Saints. His 210 yard rushing performance in 2012 comes to mind, for example. I think the Panthers will rely on turnovers and taking care of the football. That means Williams will get a healthy dose of carries. Based on that, tackling and staying in your gap comes at a premium. The Saints’ tackling has really come and gone week to week and they’re going to need it against this run heavy team now more than ever. The focus has to be on stopping the run so they can force Cam Newton to make plays with a subpar receiving core.
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